MY ACCOUNT
Harry Kane is finding the net at a remarkable rate — and he does not look like slowing down any time soon.
The hitman struck his 50th goal in an England shirt against Germany last week, while he continues to rack up phenomenal numbers for Tottenham at club level.
Spurs’ talisman will be hoping to finally secure silverware for club and country in 2022-23 with a World Cup on the horizon and Antonio Conte’s North London revolution gathering pace.
As the Three Lions prepare for tonight’s clash with Hungary, we take a look at Kane’s impressive form and what he can achieve over the coming season.
Conte change
Kane’s slow start last term saw him score just one Premier League goal in his first 13 appearances.
But with Tottenham languishing in ninth place by early November, manager Nuno Espirito Santo was replaced by decorated tactician Conte — reinvigorating the team’s star forward as a result.
After the Italian coach’s arrival, Kane ranked highest for shots (114) and shots on target (43) in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a terrific turnaround under Conte as his 17 top-flight goals and nine assists fired Spurs to a top-four finish.
A team player
Nuno was heavily criticised for his defensive style while in North London with Spurs having gone over two hours without a shot on target at the time of his dismissal.
Yet that all changed under Conte as Kane’s strike partnership with fellow frontman Heung-Min Son started to bear fruit once again.
The pair broke the Premier League record for the most all-time goal combinations in February — usurping Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s total of 36 during a 4-0 victory over Leeds.
Kane’s creative contributions under Conte have been particularly notable — he has registered a league-high 17 big chances since the 52-year-old’s appointment.
Improved supply
Spurs have already made one shrewd addition this summer with former Inter Milan wing-back Ivan Perisic arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And Kane’s hopes of reclaiming the Premier League Golden Boot should be aided by the 33-year-old’s arrival as the Croatian created the third-most big chances (14) in Serie A last term.
Kane has made no secret of his aspirations to eclipse Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League tally (260) and is just 77 off that total (183).
With Son and Perisic supplying the Walthamstow native, you would expect him to significantly close the gap next season.
England endeavour
Kane will also have his sights set on another record in 2022 as he sits just three goals away from Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goalscoring total of 53.
The 72-cap international would ideally surpass that tally before this year’s World Cup in Qatar to remove any additional pressure during the tournament.
There is no hiding England’s reliance on Kane, with the Three Lions’ attack looking particularly feeble prior to his introduction in the stalemate with Italy last time out.
He has scored 12 goals in 11 appearances for Gareth Southgate’s side since the Euro 2020 final loss to the Azzurri and will be vital to any success in the Middle East this winter.
World Cup wish
Kane has reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the 2020 European Championship with England — but hopes to avoid being the bridesmaid once again in Qatar.
He said: “We will probably be going into this tournament as one of the favourites and that comes with a different pressure, a different responsibility.
“We played the whole of Euro 2020 and didn’t lose a game and it was just that the penalty shootout didn’t go our way.
“But at the World Cup you’re playing at the next step up and in a different environment, being in Qatar.
“There is stuff we need to go and break down to be world champions. And that is our goal.”
